Molded-pulp article



Feb. 25, 1930. CHAPLIN 1,748,865

MOLDED PULP ARTI OLE Filed March 31, 1928- NVENTOR War/e m fia i277 Patented Feb. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MERLE P. CHAPLIN, OF WATERVILLE, MAINE, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO FIDELITY TRUST COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE MOLDED-PULP ARTICLE Application filed March 31, 1928. Serial No. 266,337.

This invention relates to dishes, such for instance, as plates, formed of pulp material.

More specifically stated the invention relates to dishes of the type known as paper or fiber dishes made from a suitable pulp or like base.

Such plates or dishes as ordinarily or commonly constructed have a tendency to warp out of shape, become deformed or dented on the edges during the manufacture and the stacking of the articles. Furthermore, they tend to bend, warp or break when held by the outer edge or rim.

This invention has for its salient object to provide a dish that is stiff, firm and strong in construction, particularly at the peripheral edge thereof, and will not bend, buckle or break when in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dish that is attractive in appearance and can be economically manufactured.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part of this application, and in which Fig. 1 is a plan View of a plate constructed in accordance with the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1. p

In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings there is shown a plate comprising a substantially fiat central portion 10, a curved portion llat the outer edge of the flat portion, and an inclined rim 12 having a downwardly curved outer edge 13.

The plate is formed of any suitable composition, such as paper pulp, and can be made in a pulp molding machine of any desired construction or in any other suitable manner. The plate is preferably so made that the outer periphery or downwardly curved portion 13 is denser than the remaining portion.

The rim 12 and the adjoining curved portions 11 and 13 form a channel section resembling in section a channel iron. This section materially strengthens and stiffens the structure and prevents bending, buckling or breaking of the-plate when the plate is loaded and is supported from the outer edge thereof.

The downwardly curved outer edge of the plate materially stiflens the edge, thereby overcoming any tendency of the edge to be come dented or deformed in manufacture or in the packing or packaging of the plates. Furthermore, the greater density of the outer edge assists in resisting bending, buckling or breaking.

Although one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is-capable of modification and that changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A dish formed of compressed pulp material having a bottom, a rim, and an outer edge part curved relative to said rim, a second part merging into said bottom and curved relative to said rim and spaced from said first part by said rim, to form a dish having sides, channel shaped in cross section, thereby minimizing buckling and bending of the dish when held by the rim or edge parts.

2. A dish formed of compressed pulp material having a bottom, a rim and an outer edge part curved relative to said rim, a second part merging into said bottom and curved relative to said rim and spaced from said first part by said rim, to form a dish having sides, channel shaped in cross section, thereby minimizing buckling and bending of the dish when held by the rim or edge parts, said first mentioned part being of greater density thanthe remaining parts of the dish.

3. A dish formed of pulp material comprising a substantially flat bottom and a portion surrounding said bottom, said surrounding portion being constructed in the form of an inverted channel and having an intermediate part inclined to said bottom, an inversely curved part interconnecting the fiat bottom and the intermediate part of the channel, the other part of said channel extending downwardly to form a dish having sides channel shaped in cross section.

4. A dish formed of pulp material comprising a substantially flat bottom and a portion surrounding said bottom, said surrounding portion being constructed in the form of an inverted channel having an intermediate part inclined to said bottom, an inversely curved part interconnecting the flat bottom and the intermediate part of the channel, the outer part of said channel extending downwardly, said outer part haying a greater density than the remaining parts of the dish.

5. A dish formed of compressed pulp material having a bottom and a surrounding side portion, the said portion comprising central and inner and outeredge parts, the inner edge part being curved with respect to the central part and merging into the bottom of the plate and the outer edge part extending downwardly with respect to the central part, whereby said side portion is channel shaped in cross section.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 23rd da of March, 1928.

- RLE P. CHAPLIN. 

